My Relationship With Jesus Christ...

I never saw myself as a "Jesus Follower". All my life growing up I was never exposed to religious beliefs or church for that matter. I didn't grow up with a religious family like some people. The idea of him never really leaped into my head. Throughout the years, I've faced some unnecessary family drama. Who hasn't? But to me as a teenager the world just felt as if it was falling apart from the tips of my fingers. As a teenager there's only so much you can do. At that moment I felt so vulnerable. My family was falling apart. As the years grew on I learned to forget about it. Move on. But then it happened again. The alcohol took control again. That same feeling of being so vulnerable washed over me again like a ton of bricks. At the time that this all happened I had been going to church every Sunday. But that's all I was doing "going" to church. I didn't feel as if it meant anything to me. It was just, well church. But at the moment where everything was falling apart. I prayed. I'm not the type to pray everyday to god. But at the moment I did. I walked away from all the drama. I took a few moments to myself. Took a few deep breaths, and spoke to HIM. For the first time I actually felt like I was talking to HIM. It had been just weeks since that night, and I already felt like God was answering my prayers. The alcohol that had taken over that night was long gone. Vanished. And it hasn't come near me nor my family for over 4 months now. And I hope to God that it never comes back. Later throughout the year one of my good friends showed me a Church Camp that was happening in the next month. The first time I had ever went to a Church Camp was back in February. I didn't know what to think. all I could think was all of these kids worshiping Jesus. I felt really uncomfortable. It was my first time EVER experiencing something like that. After that I went to church every Sunday if I could, trying to feel what everybody else felt. That connection with god. I chased after that for months and grew frustrated with myself because I couldn't find it. I felt like I was in a different world. I just felt lost. But When my friend showed me this other camp that was happening in the next month, called IGNITE, I was truly excited. This was my chance to grow a relationship with Jesus Christ. We counted down the days. And when that day finally came, and I arrived at the Church. Something inside me grew hesitant. I ignored it. The camp was 5 days and throughout those five days, that hesitant feeling ceased to exist. I felt so close to god that it almost scared me to be so close to him. Then, on the last day of IGNITE we had our last session worshiping Jesus. We were all grouped together in front of the stage, as the band sang. And I realized at that moment that Jesus has always been with me. Even if I felt he was totally nonexistent. He was always been there for me. Going to that camp has really changed my perspective of things. I can now say I have a relationship with Jesus. And that relationship is only going to grow and become the most lively thing there is. For the first time ever I actually experienced what everybody was always talking about. I felt his love